Mauritius boosts public health readiness with IHR training

MAURITIUS—Mauritius has hosted a weeklong interactive training on International Health Regulations (IHR) to boost the nation’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies.

Organised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), this initiative is part of a larger effort to enhance Mauritius’ compliance with IHR, serving as a crucial line of defence against epidemics and other potential public health threats.

The training aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) commitment to strengthen IHR capacity and public health preparedness under the Mauritius Cooperation Strategy 2023-2026. 

The IHR, which have been in place for over 170 years, are a legally binding framework that provides guidelines for preventing the international spread of diseases.

This training builds on Mauritius’ progress since a Joint External Evaluation in 2018, which led to the establishment of a National Focal Point (NFP).

The NFP is responsible for overseeing the States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR) Tool, a key mechanism for evaluating progress in building IHR core capacities.

Additionally, Mauritius has developed a National Action Plan for Health Security, as well as action plans to address antimicrobial resistance and infection prevention and control.

Another critical component of this initiative is the ongoing development of a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.

WHO and the MOHW are working together to increase Integrated Disease Surveillance and Reporting (IDSR) coverage across the country.

The goal is to raise the number of health facilities that report on priority diseases from 25% in 2022 to 100% by the end of 2024.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of the IHR, further accelerating these efforts to strengthen public health infrastructure.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, Dr. Anne Ancia emphasized the significance of Mauritius’ tourism industry and its reliance on the movement of people and goods.

She noted that safeguarding public health is key to maintaining the country’s socio-economic growth, pointing out that the IHR are designed to both save lives and protect trade and travel.

Dr. Fazil Khodabocus, acting director of public health at the MOHW, echoed these sentiments, referencing Mauritius’ previous experiences with outbreaks of chikungunya, dengue, and Influenza A (H1N1) between 2006 and 2010.

These outbreaks led to the formation of the Communicable Diseases Control Unit, which now coordinates responses to public health emergencies.

One participant, Soobdial Rajkoomaree, acting manager of the neonatal ICU at Dr. AG Jeetoo Hospital, shared that this was her first exposure to IHR.

She noted that the training was beneficial, particularly at the ward level, and would be valuable if she becomes involved in policymaking in the future.

WHO consultants’ use of gameplay techniques, such as scenario planning, helped participants understand how IHR functions in realistic situations.

The workshop also introduced participants to the One Health approach, which emphasizes collaboration across sectors to address health challenges.

For Manisha Curpen Mahadoo, senior scientific officer at the Ministry of Blue Economy, the training highlighted the importance of integrating IHR into areas such as surveillance, laboratory practices, food safety, and risk communication.

She revealed that the next step is to establish committees within ministries to promote multisectoral engagement under the One Health framework.

In addition, Zaheed Jhummun, a community pharmacist and secretary of the Pharmaceutical Association of Mauritius, also found the training enriching.

He plans to share his newfound knowledge with fellow pharmacists during their monthly professional development sessions, noting the critical role pharmacies can play in contributing to IHR core capacities and public health surveillance at the community level.

The IHR training marked a significant step toward improving Mauritius’ preparedness and response to health emergencies.

By introducing new concepts to some and reinforcing them for others, the workshop has laid a strong foundation for enhancing the country’s public health system.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and  insights from Africa and the World HERE